Affiliate Cookie Duration Explained (with Real Program Examples)

Updated 2026-11-07 · AffiliateMarketer.io editors

An affiliate cookie window is how long after a click you still get credit for a sale. If a reader clicks your link today and buys within the window, the commission is yours, as long as nothing else overrides your attribution.

Real examples from our directory

• 30 days: Bluehost, Shopify, NordVPN, Surfshark, Teachable, Coursera, Skillshare, Viator.
• 60 days: SiteGround, Kinsta.
• 90 days: Thinkific, Leadpages, Webflow (first touch), Grammarly, Envato (first click).
• 120 days: Semrush (last click), SE Ranking.
• 180 days: WP Engine, HubSpot.
• Lifetime attribution: Systeme.io.

First click vs. last click

With last-click attribution, the most recent affiliate link the buyer clicked gets the credit. With first-click (or first-touch), the first affiliate to send the visitor keeps the credit for the window. Long first-click windows favor content that reaches buyers early in their research, such as comparison guides.

Does a longer cookie matter?

For impulse purchases, most sales happen within a day or two, so cookie length matters less than conversion rate. For considered purchases like software, hosting and courses, buyers often research for weeks, and a 90-to-180-day window can noticeably increase your credited sales.

Browse programs by model: recurring, flat bounty and percent of sale.